Two candidates for FIDE President have been criss-crossing the continent of Africa vying for critical votes in a continent that is often fractured and does not always vote as a bloc. Seems like a common ritual every four years when the election campaign heats up.

The current FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov took a tour of African countries with the help of FIDE Vice President Lewis Ncube of Zambia. While it appears that he is visiting under the office of FIDE President, his visit had a definite campaign ring. Ilyumzhinov visited Togo and Cameroon, two African nations with fledgling federations.

TOGO

Chess is picking up momentum in the land of Togo. Last year, the Togo Chess Association held training activities with Egyptian National Master, Omar Salama. Last week, Togolese Chess President Frederic Mawuvi Koue Kouevi along with representatives from Ghana, Mali, Ivory Coast, Senegal received Mr. Ilyumzhinov. In Togo, there were site visits to schools including an orphanage 50 kilometers outside of the capitol, Lome.

After the meeting with the Minister of Sports and Recreation FIDE President answered the journalists’ questions.

Togolese at rapt attention!

Apparently the level was higher than expected.

Group shot at the orphanage.

On February 18th Kirsan Ilyumzhinov met with the President of Togo NOC, Mr. Yawovi Yao Goe-Ho Dogbo, and the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Mrs. Angele Amouzou-Djake. He informed the Minister on the meetings with the leadership of chess federation of Togo, possibility to allocate four stipends for those who wish to study at the Russian State Academy of Physical Culture, and the experience on implementing the CIS programme in different countries.

Ilyumzhinov also visited Yaoundé, Cameroon a country known for its footballing legends. However, Ilyumzhinov was there to extol the values of chess and met with the Minister of Sports and Physical Education Mr. Adoum Garoua. Garoua added that there are various mind games in Cameroon. In fact, Cameroon has one of the world’s best draughts players in GM Jean-Marc Djofang. Cameroon has had chess activities in the past including the 2007 Masters Open highlighted at The Chess Drum. Further Ilyumzhinov and Ncube made other pronouncements…

President Ilyumzhinov highly evaluated the activity of Cameroonian Chess Federation which was established a few years ago but actively promote chess, the merit goes to its President Mr. Michel Nguele Viang. In the presence of Russia’s Ambassador to Cameroon Mr. Nikolai Ratsiborinskiy it was announced that three stipends can be allocated for the Cameroonians to have chances to study at the Russian State Academy of Physical Training.

Meeting at Yaoundé Chess Club… Ncube, Viang, Ilyumzhinov.

Cameroon’s National Olympic Committee

During a visit to the Yaoundé Chess Club there was the interesting suggestion to produce chess sets stemming from Cameroon’s expansive logging industry. Of course the main topic was the Chess-in-Schools program. Ilyumzhinov met with the Ministry of Education to explain the merits of chess inclusion. There was also a meeting with Cameroon’s National Olympic Committee. During the trip the FIDE President would meet with Presidents of Mali, Gabon and the Central Africa Republic, the latter gripped in a raging civil war.

One Response to “Ilyumzhinov in Togo and Cameroon”

[…] Ilyumzhinov in Togo and Cameroon The Chess Drum Two candidates for FIDE President have been criss-crossing the continent of Africa vying for critical votes in a continent that is often fractured and … […]